Still, only 20 percent of Puerto Rico’s residents have power.

Two weeks ago, battery makers Tesla and Sonnen pledged to build microgrids and deliver batteries to hospitals and other critical infrastructure in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which wiped out power to nearly all of the island’s electricity customers. Today, Tesla tweeted that Hospital del Niño, a children’s hospital in Puerto Rico, was the “first of many solar+storage projects going live.” (The company didn't immediately respond to requests for comments on the size of the installation or how much it cost.)

But Tesla is not the only company working on putting renewable energy in Puerto Rico. In an e-mail to Ars, Sonnen spokesperson Michelle Mapel said that the company's first microgrid in Puerto Rico would go live sometime next week, with three to five Sonnen microgrids serving communities on the island by mid-November.

Further Reading

Microgrids have often been cited as infrastructure to improve electric resiliency. They tend to be small, community-based systems that run on solar power, batteries, wind, or diesel generators, which can be quickly repaired and linked up to other microgrids in case of failure. In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in 2012, New York set aside $500,000 in grants to do feasibility studies for microgrid construction. Similarly, Puerto Rico seems enthusiastic to place microgrids where more traditional energy was once served. According to Bloomberg, Puerto Rico officials have talked not only to Tesla and Sonnen, but also to Arensis and Sunnova to discuss improving and privatizing parts of the commonwealth's public grid.

But that enthusiasm for ambitious projects was overshadowed by the admission from Puerto Rico’s governor on Thursday that only 20 percent of the island’s connected residents have power. The news comes more than a month out from the devastating hurricane’s landfall.

While microgrid companies are eager to show off their plans for the island, Puerto Rico residents are growing increasingly impatient, hoping for any electricity, whether it's low-carbon or not.

According to the Associated Press, Puerto Rico’s state-owned power company PREPA (short for Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) filed for bankruptcy in July, just before the hurricane hit. Even before the disaster, Puerto Ricans paid some of the highest prices for electricity in the US and still dealt with an unreliable, fossil fuel-heavy grid. When Maria hit the island, PREPA had “put off badly needed maintenance and had just finished dealing with outages from Hurricane Irma in early September,” the AP wrote. In addition, the path of the hurricane was unlucky for Puerto Rico. As the AP explained:

Most of Puerto Rico’s generating capacity is along the southern coast and most consumption is in the north around San Juan, with steel and aluminum transmission towers up to 90 feet (27 meters) tall running through the mountains in the middle. At least 10 towers fell along the most important transmission line that runs to the capital, entangling it with a secondary one that runs parallel and that lost about two dozen towers in a hard-to-reach area in the center of the island.

The Puerto Rican government has promised its citizens that 95 percent of PREPA's customers will have power again by December 31, but some have doubts.

Meanwhile, the first company hired to help PREPA fix its power grid has come under scrutiny by the House Committee on Natural Resources. The two-person, Montana-based firm, Whitefish Energy, was founded just two years ago and is based in Whitefish, Montana, the same town Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is from, according to reporting from The New York Times. The company won a $300 million contract to help PREPA repair 100 miles of high-voltage transmission lines. A report from Buzzfeed quoted the company as saying it provided expertise in mountainside transmission repair that other companies from the southeast region of the US couldn’t provide. Whitefish CEO Andy Techmanski counters that he was at the right place at the right time, and PREPA denies any suggestions of cronyism through the US government.

According to TheNew York Times, “in an interview on Oct. 10, Mr. Techmanski said he got the job because he was the first to show up on the island—on Sept. 26, six days after the storm hit—and because he didn’t ask for any payment in advance." PREPA’s CEO, Ricardo Ramos, insisted that the utility evaluated “five or six” other offers before settling on Whitefish’s.

Today an Oklahoma City-based contractor called Mammoth Energy Services also signed a $200 million contract deal with PREPA to rebuild transmission lines serving the island.

The US federal government's response to the aftermath of hurricane Maria has been embarrassingly inadequate. However, if anything positive can come out of the bumbling "They can't even vote in federal elections, screw 'em" response, at least hopefully micro grids and other initiatives can better prepare them for future hurricanes.

The US is a rich nation and I have no doubt that they'll be just fine, even after the hurricanes. Is any of this effort going towards Antigua and Barbuda, or some of the other island nations that were heavily affected? I haven't heard much news, and it's hard to find recent information.

I know that the PM of Antigua was asking for debt forgiveness to help with the rebuilding on Barbuda, which is uninhabited right now, but I don't know if that's been accepted or if any corporations have come forward to help rebuild. Maybe it would be worth some time looking into some of the more challenging problems of rebuilding with such a limited budget that's available to smaller island nations.

That story is about Trump administration corruption. From the Buzzfeed link:

Quote:

Some observers have raised questions about Whitefish Energy’s ties to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, a Whitefish native and acquaintance of Whitefish Energy CEO Andy Techmanski. Zinke’s son Wolf previously worked as a flagger at one of Techmanski’s worksites; when Whitefish Energy attempted to build a transistor plant on a Superfund site in nearby Columbia Falls last year, then-congressman Zinke’s office reached out to the city manager. Both Zinke and Techmanski have denied that Zinke was involved in the procurement of the Puerto Rico contract.

What’s more, Joe Colonnetta, the head of one of Whitefish Energy’s major funding sources, Dallas-based HBC Investments, has made significant donations to Trump’s election campaign and PACs supporting Trump’s election. Colonnetta also contributed to the campaigns of Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, as well as then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who later appointed Colonnetta to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, which has been embroiled in controversy surrounding allegations of cronyism on the part of Perry donors turned trustees.

thinking more. the whole power grid needs to re design and spreed out how it makes the power. you simple cant base it off of once source. it will fail. another thing never go the cheapest design. yeah you might get more money in the sort term. but long term your going to get shafted.

The process (or lack thereof) of awarding the government contract to repair the power grid is... pathetic and as many journalists have pointed, crooked to the core.

There's literally no way this should be legal, and, unless I am mistaken, it's also a loan, not actual US Government aid, because, you know, second class citizen status for the Spanish speaking Americans.

That story is about Trump administration corruption. From the Buzzfeed link:

Quote:

Some observers have raised questions about Whitefish Energy’s ties to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, a Whitefish native and acquaintance of Whitefish Energy CEO Andy Techmanski. Zinke’s son Wolf previously worked as a flagger at one of Techmanski’s worksites; when Whitefish Energy attempted to build a transistor plant on a Superfund site in nearby Columbia Falls last year, then-congressman Zinke’s office reached out to the city manager. Both Zinke and Techmanski have denied that Zinke was involved in the procurement of the Puerto Rico contract.

What’s more, Joe Colonnetta, the head of one of Whitefish Energy’s major funding sources, Dallas-based HBC Investments, has made significant donations to Trump’s election campaign and PACs supporting Trump’s election. Colonnetta also contributed to the campaigns of Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, as well as then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who later appointed Colonnetta to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, which has been embroiled in controversy surrounding allegations of cronyism on the part of Perry donors turned trustees.

If anyone really cares, the "transistor" plant is really a transformer plant if you follow the URLs.

I doubt there is such a shortage in technical skill for mountainous power line construction. If seen enough "how the hell did they do that" power lines over the years that these people aren't restricted to Whitefish Montana.

These power pole roads come in handy when hiking or driving off road. It is just amazing where they can plop down a pole or tower. When you run a power line, keeping the path short can be critical. They don't pick a route with a gentle slope. Often they use tracked vehicles.

That story is about Trump administration corruption. From the Buzzfeed link:

Quote:

Some observers have raised questions about Whitefish Energy’s ties to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, a Whitefish native and acquaintance of Whitefish Energy CEO Andy Techmanski. Zinke’s son Wolf previously worked as a flagger at one of Techmanski’s worksites; when Whitefish Energy attempted to build a transistor plant on a Superfund site in nearby Columbia Falls last year, then-congressman Zinke’s office reached out to the city manager. Both Zinke and Techmanski have denied that Zinke was involved in the procurement of the Puerto Rico contract.

What’s more, Joe Colonnetta, the head of one of Whitefish Energy’s major funding sources, Dallas-based HBC Investments, has made significant donations to Trump’s election campaign and PACs supporting Trump’s election. Colonnetta also contributed to the campaigns of Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, as well as then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who later appointed Colonnetta to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, which has been embroiled in controversy surrounding allegations of cronyism on the part of Perry donors turned trustees.

The effects of 1950s government thinking mixed with no future proofing with a heavy dose of greed during the coming decades. It was the Luis Muñoz Marín (our first people elected governor)) mandate get electrical power to every corner of Puerto Rico and every home wheverer they were, thus the old Rainwater Sources Agency became the PR Electric Power Authority, and due to that vision of having a fully powered PR, that noble vision became a few decades later the biggest moneymaker machine to almost all politicians here. And since those who have money only wants more of it, the maintenance of those powerlines, plants and the like went downhill while all those politicians took all that money, and the rest is history...

We really have a golden plate to really begin a new PR, but those corrupt politicians, no matter the party they're from, they don't want to lose the status quo, they don't want PREPA to go because, then who will think of those politicians children??

Still without power nor water since Maria, food slowly is getting better to find, gas is normal now, my job is firing 3 people daily and no one is exent (I work as a Financial Aid Coordinator in an Online college and currently we have 30 percent showrate of our entire 3k plus students) and my wife had her second chemo last Tuesday, thank God the nausea is almost gone so that's the best news for me this week so far.

Sad that we're paying the price for the greed of those in power, but hey! I'm happy to know that my son's school is not opening so their son's private college can operate like nothing happened!!! Yay!!!

The effects of 1950s government thinking mixed with no future proofing with a heavy dose of greed during the coming decades. It was the Luis Muñoz Marín (our first people elected governor)) mandate get electrical power to every corner of Puerto Rico and every home wheverer they were, thus the old Rainwater Sources Agency became the PR Electric Power Authority, and due to that vision of having a fully powered PR, that noble vision became a few decades later the biggest moneymaker machine to almost all politicians here. And since those who have money only wants more of it, the maintenance of those powerlines, plants and the like went downhill while all those politicians took all that money, and the rest is history...

We really have a golden plate to really begin a new PR, but those corrupt politicians, no matter the party they're from, they don't want to lose the status quo, they don't want PREPA to go because, then who will think of those politicians children??

Still without power nor water since Maria, food slowly is getting better to find, gas is normal now, my job is firing 3 people daily and no one is exent (I work as a Financial Aid Coordinator in an Online college and currently we have 30 percent showrate of our entire 3k plus students) and my wife had her second chemo last Tuesday, thank God the nausea is almost gone so that's the best news for me this week so far.

Sad that we're paying the price for the greed of those in power, but hey! I'm happy to know that my son's school is not opening so their son's private college can operate like nothing happened!!! Yay!!!

It is difficult to express this (48 YO computer analyst) - where is the money? If this was my young daughters being wronged by champagne-sipping politicians, then I'd go nuclear.

Puerto Rico is part of the USA. Our nuclear-powered aircraft carriers can power THOUSANDS of homes, and we have 12 (Ford in pre-deployment, Enterprise retired but capable). Park one in dock and plug in a Home Depot power cord!

We spend more allowing the Giant Cheetos to golf weekly at his own golf courses (and pay for wife "double" actresses) than helping Puerto Rico.

It is difficult to express this (48 YO computer analyst) - where is the money? If this was my young daughters being wronged by champagne-sipping politicians, then I'd go nuclear.

Puerto Rico is part of the USA. Our nuclear-powered aircraft carriers can power THOUSANDS of homes, and we have 12 (Ford in pre-deployment, Enterprise retired but capable). Park one in dock and plug in a Home Depot power cord!

We spend more allowing the Giant Cheetos to golf weekly at his own golf courses (and pay for wife "double" actresses) than helping Puerto Rico.

Ask trump why He doesnt seem to be exploring all options like what you suggested. Does it happen to be the reality that there is a large amount of non-white people in Puerto Rico inspite of the fact they are American Citizens? Actions speak louder than words.

It is difficult to express this (48 YO computer analyst) - where is the money? If this was my young daughters being wronged by champagne-sipping politicians, then I'd go nuclear.

Puerto Rico is part of the USA. Our nuclear-powered aircraft carriers can power THOUSANDS of homes, and we have 12 (Ford in pre-deployment, Enterprise retired but capable). Park one in dock and plug in a Home Depot power cord!

We spend more allowing the Giant Cheetos to golf weekly at his own golf courses (and pay for wife "double" actresses) than helping Puerto Rico.

The plant problem is pretty simple compared to restoring the grid.

Some grifter turned up and got a big contract on the spot, presumably just by fast talking one guy. I hate Trump but that's not on him. Still they should have taken charge sooner with federal oversight to prevent such things.

It is difficult to express this (48 YO computer analyst) - where is the money? If this was my young daughters being wronged by champagne-sipping politicians, then I'd go nuclear.

Puerto Rico is part of the USA. Our nuclear-powered aircraft carriers can power THOUSANDS of homes, and we have 12 (Ford in pre-deployment, Enterprise retired but capable). Park one in dock and plug in a Home Depot power cord!

We spend more allowing the Giant Cheetos to golf weekly at his own golf courses (and pay for wife "double" actresses) than helping Puerto Rico.

The plant problem is pretty simple compared to restoring the grid.

Some grifter turned up and got a big contract on the spot, presumably just by fast talking one guy. I hate Trump but that's not on him. Still they should have taken charge sooner with federal oversight to prevent such things.

Yeah, because screw the legal requirement of needing local government permission for the Federal government to take over. It's Catalonia writ small.

It is difficult to express this (48 YO computer analyst) - where is the money? If this was my young daughters being wronged by champagne-sipping politicians, then I'd go nuclear.

Puerto Rico is part of the USA. Our nuclear-powered aircraft carriers can power THOUSANDS of homes, and we have 12 (Ford in pre-deployment, Enterprise retired but capable). Park one in dock and plug in a Home Depot power cord!

We spend more allowing the Giant Cheetos to golf weekly at his own golf courses (and pay for wife "double" actresses) than helping Puerto Rico.

The plant problem is pretty simple compared to restoring the grid.

Some grifter turned up and got a big contract on the spot, presumably just by fast talking one guy. I hate Trump but that's not on him. Still they should have taken charge sooner with federal oversight to prevent such things.

Yeah, because screw the legal requirement of needing local government permission for the Federal government to take over. It's Catalonia writ small.

They have a federal oversight board that's taking charge of this now, appointing an emergency manager. But I won't comment further as I don't know enough about it all.

Look at all those kind-hearted corporations lining up to help the suffering people of Puerto Rico. Disaster capitalism at its finest. Of course the Ars crowd worships folks like Elon Musk, so there's little chance of a more critical eye being cast upon all this.

At the risk of feeding the troll... what do you expect them to do? Sweet FA like 99% of the time.

Thank god someone has stepped up cos' it sure as shit isn't "The Powers The Be".

Musk has gone out with his own money, his own tech and his own people and helped others by solving severe problems. You know what? I bet the people of Puerto Rico pay him back 3 fold.

Whatever you say - this man, his money & company actually went out there and helped people in need.

The effects of 1950s government thinking mixed with no future proofing with a heavy dose of greed during the coming decades. It was the Luis Muñoz Marín (our first people elected governor)) mandate get electrical power to every corner of Puerto Rico and every home wheverer they were, thus the old Rainwater Sources Agency became the PR Electric Power Authority, and due to that vision of having a fully powered PR, that noble vision became a few decades later the biggest moneymaker machine to almost all politicians here. And since those who have money only wants more of it, the maintenance of those powerlines, plants and the like went downhill while all those politicians took all that money, and the rest is history...

We really have a golden plate to really begin a new PR, but those corrupt politicians, no matter the party they're from, they don't want to lose the status quo, they don't want PREPA to go because, then who will think of those politicians children??

Still without power nor water since Maria, food slowly is getting better to find, gas is normal now, my job is firing 3 people daily and no one is exent (I work as a Financial Aid Coordinator in an Online college and currently we have 30 percent showrate of our entire 3k plus students) and my wife had her second chemo last Tuesday, thank God the nausea is almost gone so that's the best news for me this week so far.

Sad that we're paying the price for the greed of those in power, but hey! I'm happy to know that my son's school is not opening so their son's private college can operate like nothing happened!!! Yay!!!

Good to hear from you, I was worrying.

Thanks man, really appreciate it. We're ok thank God, still waiting for a FEMA inspector to evaluate my house and see how much assistance we'll get. But my workplace stability is very weak and they haven't hid their intentions of firing people until profits are up again or close the place for good, screw everyone else working there. Job wise there's a lot of unemployment right now because lots and lots of companies are closing operations. My brothers up there in Brooklyn want us to move there, and truth is we'll be better over there, but right now for me that's a Plan B scenario, would love to say it is my last resort but my wife's cancer is a priority right now. If I get fired then I'll move, because otherwise she'll be left without treatment and that's NOT acceptable.

Richard Branson said in this talk that his solar power survived the hurricane. This is a reply to the post about the wind and solar power failing. I could see wind turbines being difficult to design to be capable of withstanding a hurricane, but solar should be survivable.

Puerto Rico is part of the USA. Our nuclear-powered aircraft carriers can power THOUSANDS of homes, and we have 12 (Ford in pre-deployment, Enterprise retired but capable). Park one in dock and plug in a Home Depot power cord!.

Well to do what you want, cheif, we're gonna have to... Redo... A lot of power lines. Like all of it. Cause what's there isn't safe.

Also isn't that what they did during a previous disaster? Shore the ship and run cables?